Anyone else had trouble with hotel airport check-in on SWA

[jimandami]

Hi all! Just wanted to post our experience leaving OKW Thursday the 12th so that others may be aware of this issue. Our ME bus was set to leave at 8:20 AM so we arrived at 7:40 to do airport resort check-in. My mother and I had flown to Orlando a few days ahead of DH and kids and we had taken an Air-Tran flight operated by SWA. DH and kids flew SWA on the way down. We all had the same flight on SWA to return home. For whatever reason, the computer was telling the agent that my DH and kids had also flown Air-Tran down and it would not let us check our bags at the hotel. She called over two other people to help and none could get the system to work, and they said there have been similar problems with others since the SWA/AT merge. So, we ended up having to lug all 7 bags to the airport on ME, stand in a ridiculously long line to check them in, and rush, rush, rush through the airport to get to our flight. Anyway, definitely not the fault of Disney in any way, but it was much less than magical, I can assure you. I just wanted to post to let others know it has been a potential problem, and to be prepared for the possibility.

 

[goofy4tink]

We've heard a bunch of these experiences lately. I have a good friend that had the exact same experience last week!
There is no way I would fly SW/AT until they get these kinks worked out!

 

[Ed J]

Not that it would help you now, but at MCO when SW has a long line we just walk outside and use the skycap. Last trip we were 5 rows deep inline and I wanted time to eat before we boarded so we spent a few bucks to skip the line so to speak.

 

[helenk]

I flew SW on my trip home last week and did RAC and had no problems.

 

[jtowntoflorida]

Same thing happened to me in October. They said it was because we flew AT on on incoming leg and SW home, which makes no sense to me, but whatever.

 

[Huff]

Why is it a problem to use ME if you fly different airlines to/from MCO? I will be flying to MCO on Delta and meeting family arriving on United. We will all return home on the same United flight. Am I going to have to hand carry luggage to/from ME buses?

 

[Tay N Evie's Mom]

Just wondering if you booked your AT flight through the SWA website and if it was booked as a round trip flight? We're flying down on AT and back home on SWA in January, but I booked both flights separate and booked each flight on the respective airline's website.

 

[sam_gordon]

Why is it a problem to use ME if you fly different airlines to/from MCO? I will be flying to MCO on Delta and meeting family arriving on United. We will all return home on the same United flight. Am I going to have to hand carry luggage to/from ME buses?

I'm guessing the issue is more related to the SW/AT merger than it is different arriving/departing airlines. You should be fine.

 

[jimandami]

Just wondering if you booked your AT flight through the SWA website and if it was booked as a round trip flight? We're flying down on AT and back home on SWA in January, but I booked both flights separate and booked each flight on the respective airline's website.

Mom and I booked our Air Tran flight via Southwest. BUT, they kept saying the problem was that my DH and kids flew down on Air Tran, which they definitely did not.

 

[jimandami]

Not that it would help you now, but at MCO when SW has a long line we just walk outside and use the skycap. Last trip we were 5 rows deep inline and I wanted time to eat before we boarded so we spent a few bucks to skip the line so to speak.

Thanks. We actually did end up doing that. Had we not, we would never have made our flight!

 

[jimandami]

I flew SW on my trip home last week and did RAC and had no problems.

The people checking in at the hotel next to us and were also flying SWA and had no trouble. That's what was so annoying!

 

[goofy4tink]

To the best of my knowledge, if you are flying on a SW flight, booked thru SW, on a true SW plane, you should be fine. It's when you book with SW, but the flight is really an AT flight. You have to be really observant. If this isn't the case, I'm sure someone will have the right info.

 

[lovin'fl]

We had this in Oct...flew to MCO on SW and flew home on SW/AT. We had no problems going to Disney...got to MCO, got on ME, got to BLT and checked in, went off to Epcot and came back to find our luggage in our room. The day before our flight home, we went to desk at BLT to inquire about airline check in and they told us that it was closed for the day (closed at 2pm or something like that). They told us to try again at 7am the next morning. Meanwhile our letter was on our door for the ME to the airport. They scheduled it 2.5 hours before flight...not 3 hours. We thought that meant we were the last resort to be picked up...no such luck. The day of departure, we went down to BLT desk at 7am and it wasn't open...so we continued to get ready and I sent DH down a little bit later. He was told we needed to do airline check-in at the airline desk outside where we wait for ME (oh yeah...I kinda remember that. This was only our 3rd time flying and using ME). So, we pack up and head over to that desk about 25 minutes before the ME is due to pick us up. We go to check-in and they tell us we can't since we're doing a SW/AT flight. We have to lug our luggage onto the ME and he then stops at 3 other resorts (and the last one, GF, nobody shows up but he still waits for about 10 minutes). We got to the airport and had to check in and rush around like mad to get to our gate in time...which turned out to not be too much of a problem since we were LAST to board thanks to checking in so late. DH and I didn't sit together on the plane (no biggie for us, but it may be for some folks).

I got home and called the ME department to find out that airport check in is a service provided by the airlines and it's their discretion if they offer it (the workers at the airline desk at the resorts are airline workers). The only perks Disney provides is the ME ride and delivering our luggage to our rooms. I pointed out that it was listed in the ME booklet that SW does do airline check in at the WDW resorts and it should not state that...or it should state that SW/AT doesn't...it should be more clear. I also complained about the 2.5 hours before flight ME pick-up. I explained, also, that we have this same flight situation this Dec but our 3 kids will be with us too. She could not tell me if we'd be able to do airline check in at the resort or not. Her answer was that I should check with the desk at the resort a day or so before our departure. And she said that I could call and get a different ME pick up time if it's not long enough. So, time out of my vacation to do this and I have to make sure and do it during the airline desk hours (so before 2pm).

 

[LisaS]

We fly SW both ways (not AT) and have had problems checking in for our return flight at the resort more than once. On our last two trips the person checking us in for our flight could not find us in the system. They would search and search, ask us repeatedly to spell our names, provide our flight number, confirm that we were flying SW, etc. They were finally successful both times but it took a very long time. I wish knew whether it was operator error or if there are system issues.

 

[DebbieB]

]I got home and called the ME department to find out that airport check in is a service provided by the airlines and it's their discretion if they offer it (the workers at the airline desk at the resorts are airline workers).[/B] The only perks Disney provides is the ME ride and delivering our luggage to our rooms. I pointed out that it was listed in the ME booklet that SW does do airline check in at the WDW resorts and it should not state that...or it should state that SW/AT doesn't...it should be more clear. I also complained about the 2.5 hours before flight ME pick-up. I explained, also, that we have this same flight situation this Dec but our 3 kids will be with us too. She could not tell me if we'd be able to do airline check in at the resort or not. Her answer was that I should check with the desk at the resort a day or so before our departure. And she said that I could call and get a different ME pick up time if it's not long enough. So, time out of my vacation to do this and I have to make sure and do it during the airline desk hours (so before 2pm).

They are actually employees of a company called BAGS. They are pretty much at the mercy of the airline's system.

https://www.maketraveleasier.com/bagsvip

One more year and the SW/AirTran merger should be complete. From what I've read, per their employee contracts they have to be one airline by 12-31-14. Has to be the longest merger in history. We'll see how long American/USAirways takes.

 

[jimandami]

We had this in Oct...flew to MCO on SW and flew home on SW/AT. We had no problems going to Disney...got to MCO, got on ME, got to BLT and checked in, went off to Epcot and came back to find our luggage in our room. The day before our flight home, we went to desk at BLT to inquire about airline check in and they told us that it was closed for the day (closed at 2pm or something like that). They told us to try again at 7am the next morning. Meanwhile our letter was on our door for the ME to the airport. They scheduled it 2.5 hours before flight...not 3 hours. We thought that meant we were the last resort to be picked up...no such luck. The day of departure, we went down to BLT desk at 7am and it wasn't open...so we continued to get ready and I sent DH down a little bit later. He was told we needed to do airline check-in at the airline desk outside where we wait for ME (oh yeah...I kinda remember that. This was only our 3rd time flying and using ME). So, we pack up and head over to that desk about 25 minutes before the ME is due to pick us up. We go to check-in and they tell us we can't since we're doing a SW/AT flight. We have to lug our luggage onto the ME and he then stops at 3 other resorts (and the last one, GF, nobody shows up but he still waits for about 10 minutes). We got to the airport and had to check in and rush around like mad to get to our gate in time...which turned out to not be too much of a problem since we were LAST to board thanks to checking in so late. DH and I didn't sit together on the plane (no biggie for us, but it may be for some folks).

I got home and called the ME department to find out that airport check in is a service provided by the airlines and it's their discretion if they offer it (the workers at the airline desk at the resorts are airline workers). The only perks Disney provides is the ME ride and delivering our luggage to our rooms. I pointed out that it was listed in the ME booklet that SW does do airline check in at the WDW resorts and it should not state that...or it should state that SW/AT doesn't...it should be more clear. I also complained about the 2.5 hours before flight ME pick-up. I explained, also, that we have this same flight situation this Dec but our 3 kids will be with us too. She could not tell me if we'd be able to do airline check in at the resort or not. Her answer was that I should check with the desk at the resort a day or so before our departure. And she said that I could call and get a different ME pick up time if it's not long enough. So, time out of my vacation to do this and I have to make sure and do it during the airline desk hours (so before 2pm).

That's pretty much what we experienced! I am normally a very laid back person but I will admit so was very, very annoyed!! We had SEVEN bags, which would have been whittled down had we known we would have to lug them to the airport ourselves. We were hungry and tired and just plain irritated!!

 

[nkereina]

To the best of my knowledge, if you are flying on a SW flight, booked thru SW, on a true SW plane, you should be fine. It's when you book with SW, but the flight is really an AT flight. You have to be really observant. If this isn't the case, I'm sure someone will have the right info.

We flew straight Southwest in November and were fine with RAC. No AT affiliated with our particular flight.

 

[goofy4tink]

The RAC counter is open from 5-1. The rule is that your bags must be checked in, completely, your boarding passes in hand, no less than 3 hrs prior o flight departure. If you arrive at the RAC counter less than 3 hrs. 15 mins prior to flight time, you won't be able to check your bags. It takes at least 10 mins to get checked in, and bags tagged.

As far as the 2.5 hrs prior to flight p/u time goes, that's a first for me. It usually isn't take more than half an hour to get on the highway, even if you are the first of several stops...that would get you to MCO 90 mins rigor to flight time. That's okay but could be cutting it close if security is crazy. I think I would have asked them for an earlier p/u, but that's just me.

When I check out, I always take my bags down to the RAC counter as early as possible. Then I don't have to worry about it. People get DME and RAC confused all the time. Yes, Disney 'says' they are the same, but they aren't, not really. Anyone can use RAC, as long as they are flying on one of those participating airlines, and they are staying at that resort. You can be driving back to the airport, or taking a town car. No need to be riding the DME bus back to MCO.

 

[lovin'fl]

That's pretty much what we experienced! I am normally a very laid back person but I will admit so was very, very annoyed!! We had SEVEN bags, which would have been whittled down had we known we would have to lug them to the airport ourselves. We were hungry and tired and just plain irritated!!

I know...were hungry too...planned to eat at the airport...frustrating. When we fly home on 12/25 via SW/AT...I think I may just go ahead and have them change our ME pick up time to allow for more time. I will also do online check in with our laptop for our flight. We'll still have to lug our luggage on the ME (have cash for a tip) and check them at the airport and print boarding pass at airport.

 

[jimandami]

The RAC counter is open from 5-1. The rule is that your bags must be checked in, completely, your boarding passes in hand, no less than 3 hrs prior o flight departure. If you arrive at the RAC counter less than 3 hrs. 15 mins prior to flight time, you won't be able to check your bags. It takes at least 10 mins to get checked in, and bags tagged.

As far as the 2.5 hrs prior to flight p/u time goes, that's a first for me. It usually isn't take more than half an hour to get on the highway, even if you are the first of several stops...that would get you to MCO 90 mins rigor to flight time. That's okay but could be cutting it close if security is crazy. I think I would have asked them for an earlier p/u, but that's just me.

When I check out, I always take my bags down to the RAC counter as early as possible. Then I don't have to worry about it. People get DME and RAC confused all the time. Yes, Disney 'says' they are the same, but they aren't, not really. Anyone can use RAC, as long as they are flying on one of those participating airlines, and they are staying at that resort. You can be driving back to the airport, or taking a town car. No need to be riding the DME bus back to MCO.

We arrived at the RAC counter well over 3 hours prior to our flight, it was just the AT/SW thing. Oh, and our ME pickup was 2 hours 45 minutes before our flight, which I thought was a bit odd too.